On Tv/radio sports.

Tyson Broadcast A Ko In Ratings, But Not Coverage

While Fox's "Saturday Night Fights" debut, featuring the Mike Tyson-Buster Mathis Jr. waltz, was a ratings success for the network, it wasn't exciting to watch. And it wasn't very pretty.

Like Mathis' rather dubious tactics, Fox's first foray into prime-time boxing just kind of staggered around for a while.

From the occasional slipups by announcer Kevin Harlan (calling Tyson's victory a "technical knockout" when it clearly was a KO) to an unnecessary interview with a Fox sitcom star to promote the series' time change, the debut of "Saturday Night Fights" was a yawner.

About the only high spots were the commentary of analysts Bobby Czyz and Sean O'Grady, and John Madden's taped interview with Tyson. "It's a struggle to be humble," the ex-champ said.

Czyz got off the best line of the night during the Terry Norris-Paul Varden undercard: "Body punches stay with you like a bad meal."

While not exactly leaving a bad taste in your mouth, the Fox fight package wasn't a tasty treat either. But it was free.

Which may account for the program's 16.9 Nielsen overnight rating and 29 share reported Sunday, making it the highest-rated night in Fox's brief history as a network, helped in large part by the New York (22/34), Philadelphia (21.5/35) and Atlanta (21/35) markets. Locally, the telecast had a 15.6 rating and a 27 share on WFLD-Ch. 32.

In the weekend's other fight telecast Friday night, HBO used the between-bouts time to shamelessly promote the Feb. 29 George Foreman-Michael Moorer heavyweight title bout. Unusually tacky.

Hoop dreams: When ESPN announced its college basketball schedule, one event was special--the first Jimmy V Classic double-header Friday night at the Meadowlands Arena, featuring Kansas vs. Temple and Massachusetts vs. Georgia Tech. Proceeds will benefit The V Foundation, founded by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano.

"It seemed like a natural," said ESPN program manager Dave Brown, "because (Valvano) was from the New York area, went to college in the area (Rutgers) and coached in the area (Iona). That made it easy to pick the Meadowlands. And (college) coaches love to play there."

One coach, in particular, loved the idea of the event: Georgia Tech's Bobby Cremins. His ties to Valvano included coaching against him in Valvano's last Atlantic Coast Conference game at North Carolina State.

"After he left college coaching," said Cremins, the controversial Valvano "always wanted to clear up his name. He felt (he had) a bad legacy. Then he got sick. And he left an incredible legacy with regard to fighting cancer. I'm glad we continue to do his work."

Taste of honey: When NBC decided to announce its $2.3 billion Olympics deal last week, among the first people Dick Ebersol tried to contact were Bob Costas, Greg Gumbel and Marv Albert. The talent.

"The Games are like honey to most of the (announcing) talent today," said Ebersol, president of NBC Sports. "It's somewhat of a career achievement to take part in an Olympics. There are many people, who, because of this deal, won't get that opportunity. It's not lost on us that it will be helpful as a magnet toward attracting and keeping talent."

Programming note: Gene Siskel joins "The Sports Writers on TV" to discuss--what else?--movies at 7 p.m. Monday on SportsChannel. . . . Bob Hope, without a Christmas special this year, introduces the Associated Press All-America football team on the "NFL on NBC" after Saturday's Chargers-Giants telecast.